Le roy copelin



M y 1 LE ROY COPELIN 1,806,966

SELF LEVELING CLOCK ESCAPEMENT VERGE BOD Filed April 2. 1929 Patented May 26, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LE Boy COPELIN, or JAcksoNvxL arLoBmA am LEVELING cLocx nsoarnmnnr VERGE non Application filed April 2,

This invention relates to improvements in escapement verges for pendulum clocks and has -for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved verge structure by means of'which a self leveling of the escapement will take place when the clock is out of level. a

Further objects of the invention are to provide a verge attachment which may be used a as part of the original equipment in themanufacture of clocks or which can be applied as repair or replacement parts in substitution for-the old types; to provide a verge or verge rod that requires no change in the pallets or designs of escapement now used in clocks but which can be applied'to any of them; to provide an attachment on theverge rod whereby the escapement; automatically and instantly finds its own level so that the clock will beat pro erly' regardless of, the inclination of the sur ace upon which it is placed; to provide a structure which will act as a governor, gently but surely checking any abnormal swinging of the pendulum, thecheckingefiect diminishing in accord with the diminishing swing of the pendulum as the clock runs down there by elminating the objectionable fault of the clock running'fast on full winding and-slow on 'short or incom lete winding; to provide a structure where y the escape wheel and pallets are relieved of the burden-of holding the verge in a locking'position and the detrimental effects therein; and toprovide a structure which can be stamped out free from springs, friction, rivets, screws and adjust-- ments and the objections thereto.

.The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed de-' scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present invention with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient featuresfof the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I In the drawings Figure v1 is a View in rear elevation of a 1929. Serial 101 mm.

portion of a clock works mechanism, showing the pendulum, and the device embodying the presentinvention associated therewith:

Figure 2 is a View showing the pendulum of Figure-1 in side'elevation and the verge rod in longitudinal section Figure 3 is'a sectional view taken upon the I line'.3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form of thestructure shown in Figures1to3. f

Referring to the drawings indetail, the numeral l'indicates the back plate of a clock mechanism showing throu h the opening 2 in the upper portion thereo a part of en escapement wheel 3,'andthe usual verge pallet 4 which permits the escapement wheel to escape in the usual well known manner. This palletis mounted upon a shaft 5 which is mounted atone end in the plate 1, in the manner shown. I e

The "improved verge rod embodying the present'invention'is indicated by the numeral 6',tl 1e upper end thereof being offset as in-' (heated at 7 for extension through the aperture 2 into the space between the clock mechanism walls, which end is secured to and carried by theverge pallet shaft'5, as shown, the main-portion of the rod depending over the outerfaoeof'fthe mechanism plate 1.' a

" The plate 1 carries the usual pair of spaced guard pins 8 which project therefrom in par al-lel relation and at opposite sides of the verge rod 6. Theylower end of the verge 6 is formed to provide the oppositely directed lateral arms 9 from the free end of each of which there extends outwardly from .the plate or wall 1 of the clock mechanism, the plate carrying arms'l0, each of which is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 11. .As shown these arms are spaced apart and are substantially parallel and there is supported between the arms 10, arelatively long flat plate 12, the ends ofwhich extend through the slots 11 and are lightly held therein by engagement with the lower edges of the slot so that while the plate may be shifted in "the slots 11 laterally of the arms '10, some slight resistance is offered to 7 side,

such shifting, the weight of the plate determining the amount of resistance. r V

The plate12 has formed therethroughintermediate its ends, the transverse slot 13 and through this slot extends the pendulum wire 14. The upper end of the pendulum wire carries the usual flatspring 14'.Which is removablysecured to thepeg 15 carried by the plate, in the usual manner. The lower end of the pendulum wire is formedto provide the usual hook 16over' which the eye 17 of the arm carried bythe pendulum weight 18 engages.

From the foregoing description takenin association with the accompanying drawings, it a clock containing a movement so equipped, is placed on a surface either levelor otherwise the following action will take place when the pendulum is given its initial start.

By means of theresistance caused by the weight of the plate 12 anditssliding contact in slot 13 on the carrying arm 10, the verge rod assembly will; move with the pendulum rod 141, by means of contact at ,slot 13. until verge rod 6 stops in looking position on one of the guards. or bankingjpins 8, said verge rod remaining in that locked position while the relatively light.- plate 12 shifts with the pendulum rod 14 while, the pendulum-ball. 18 is-completing its swing in that direction.

Therefore, the clock escapement is now adjusted ready to receivethe impulse of the .escape'wheel 3 on'pallet 4 which isilikewisei delivered to the pendulum rod. 14 bymeans. of the plate 12 which is of suflicient. weight, to deliver said impulse without shifting, but when the verge rod stops at the other guard pin8 theplate-likewise 'shiftswith the pen- 'dulum rod while thependulumball completes, its oscillation.

- Therefore,-the-plate 12rshi-fts eachoscillation of the pendulum, thereby finding its beat and center of gravity continuously,

thus making it resPOnsiveto'any change of,

position of the clock however slight-,'gradual orabrupt. I Q, a -r i In Figure t'there is shown a modification of the structure in Figures 1 to 3, this modification being an adaptationof the invention to a replacement partwhichmay be attached I to vergerods of the usual typewhere it is desired-to convertthem to a structurein ac-v cordance with thepr'esent invention- 7 .This modified form which is indicated as a wholeby the numeral 19, comprises a short plate or bar 20: having rearwardly' extending cars at the; upper and lowerend and at each as indicated at 21, which earsare designed'to be bent back over the old type of verge rod to secure the presentmodified form in position.

At'the lower end of the rod 20 a pair of lateral arms 22 is formed, each of which has extending forwardly therefrom an arm23 will be readily understood that when tion of a pendulumwire.

trally,'transversely apertured, as indicated at 26, like the'plate 12.

These replacement units, as will 'be readily understood,

secured upon a verge rod of any type whether the same be stamped'ofmetal ,orma'de of and if an offset verge be used the atwire tachinent may be offsetcorrespondingly.

Having thus-describedmy invention, what may be easily and quickly 1. A'self leveling clock escapementverge rod, comprising a'rod body, a clock pendu-- lum wire engagmg'element, and supporting arms carried by the'b'ody andadaptedto shiftably support theelement V v 2.,'A-self leveling. clock escapement: verge rod, comprising a rod body, spaced substan:

tially right, angularly' extending arms carried bysaid body, anda plate shiftably carried by the arms, said; plate havin'g'anopena' pendulum wire, said opening-be=- rod, comprising a rod body designed to secured at one end to a pallet shaft, a pair of arms carried by and projecting from the other end-0f the rod in spaced substantially;

parallel relation with ;one another, a plate member formed to loosely receive al cclock pendulum wire int'ermediate'it's ends, and I means whereby said arms shiftably engage said plate at opposite sides of the wire'engaging means to support the plate from the lower end of the verge rod. I a I ,4. A self leveling clock escapement vergerod, comprising a red body, a pair of later;-

ally extending arms formed at oneend' o'f the body, a'pair of forwardly extending long gitudinally slotted arms ,eachcarried by and at the; outer end of a first mentioned arm, and a plate member having its ends extended through saidslotted arms for, support there between and having alslOt intermediate its ends between theslotted arms for the recep- 1 5., A self leveling clock comprising a body having an upstandi y portion designed .to be detachably, secure to 9. Verge rod, arms projecting from the upstandescapement device,

ing portion, and amember carried by-said wire, said ,member being shiftable on and transversely of the arms to change th center i i y fthe attached verge rod. i

stantially at. right angles theretoand; de

{arms designed. to receive a clock pendulum an elongated shiftablemember i25 signed to receive a pendulum wire, saidmemher when shifted by the pendulumwirechiangingthe center of gravity of r the verge rod. 7.. In; a self levelingiclock escapement verge rod, a rod body, a clock pendulum wire engaging member, and means for shiftably sup porting said member from the rod for movement bodily in a straight line transversely thereof, whereby changes in the relative posltions of the rod and wire may take place without affecting the clock escapement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. v

LE ROY COPELIN. 

